the in possible boss - jane corrie

7/31/2019 The In Possible Boss - Jane Corrie

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THE IMPOSSIBLE BOSS

Jane Corrie

Tammy Dainton had come a long wayas far as

the Australian outback, to be preciseto take upher new job as secretary on a remote station.It wasn't exactly a good beginning, therefore, when

she immediately got on the wrong side of her new

boss, Rick Hatton. Rick might own the station- -and the whole surrounding district, so far asTammy could gather--but he wasn't going to

bully her and push her around! But it seemed hewas all the cards were stacked in his favour andhe clearly intended to make full use of that fact.

So why did Tammy care so much when she metone girl he did have plenty of time fortheglamorous Diana Scott?

Mills and Boon

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Recommended but not obligatory

ISBN 0 263 72407 7


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Books you will enjoyby JANE CORRIE

DANGEROUS ALLIANCE

Having a brilliant but eccentric father had not

helped Kent in the past, and even after his deathshe found herself caught up in his plans for herfuture. A future that unfortunately included

Matt King, his dogmatic business partner.

THE BAHAMIAN PIRATE

Serena did not see any particular harm inpretending to be nice old Mrs. Tonetti's grand-daughter. But that was before she had crossedswords with the indomitable Jordan Kerr, who

was deeply suspicious of the whole thing and

was clearly not going to leave Serena in peace!

GREEN PADDOCKS

Her home, Green Paddocks, meant more than

anything in the world to Holly Drewbut it wasonly because of that maddening Chester Hayesthat she was able to stay there. So she must just

put up with him and his autocratic ways as best

she could. But how Holly wished peoplewouldn't keep thinking she was romantically

interested in him. She wasn't, she wasn't!

SINCLAIR TERRITORY

After the tragic end of her brief marriage, Deliawas only too thankful to go out to Australia to

stay with her Aunt Lucy. She soon found thatAunt Lucy was more than ordinarily dependentsome might say under the thumb ofthe

forceful Dane Sinclair But he needn't think that

Delia was going to follow her aunt's example!


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All the characters in this book have no existence outsidethe imagination of the Author, and have no relationwhatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names.They are not even distantly inspired by any individual

known or unknown to the Author, and all the incidentsare pure invention.

First published 1975This edition 1977

Jane Corrie 1975

For copyright reasons, this book may not be issued on loanor otherwise except in its original soft cover.

ISBN 0 263 72407 7

Made and Printed in Great Britain byRichard Clay (The Chaucer Press) Ltd , Bungay, Suffo lk


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CHAPTER ONE

TAMMY DAINTON waved farewell to the Agency

truck that had brought her to her destination from

Adelaide.

She walked up the immaculate driveway bordered

with flowering shrubs, and wished she could have been

able to freshen herself up before presenting herself to

her employer. The journey had taken just over two

hours and it had been hot and sticky in the truck.She glanced down at her linen frock, glad at least

that she'd chosen to wear one that didn't crease. She

straightened the straw hat on her head and looked

ahead of her and stared at the imposing old Colonial

homestead facing her. My, it was grand ! Well kepttoo, she thought as she mounted the steps leading to

the equally imposing front door. She wondered where

the actual farm was. Her employer, she had learnt,

was a farmer.

She pulled the bell and waited, gazing back down

across the grounds surrounding the homestead.

Fenced-off green pastures ran parallel with the drive.

They were called paddocks, no different from at home,

she thought. In fact, she mused, looking at the well-

kept lawns in front of her and numerous shrubs that

nestled around the homestead, one could well imagine

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oneself right in the heart of Surrey, the county shehad left only six weeks ago.

Hearing someone approaching, Tammy looked inthe direction of the footsteps. The man stopped inhis tracks, stared, then came closer. He was at leastsix foot tall, his blond hair looked almost white fromexposure to the sun. As he came closer Tammy sawhe was quite bronzed. That was one thing she hadto get used to, well tanned beings. Coming from theland of pale faces, as she would have put it, it madea welcome change. Not that there was any welcomein this man's approach, in fact quite the reverse.Tammy would have smiled had there been any sign

of softening in his handsome features, but for allthe expression they showed they might have beencarved out of stone. There was something about hisbearing, too, that slightly intimidated Tammy. Hisblue check shirt and immaculate grey gaberdine

trousers suggested boss rather than employee. Thetype of man who gives orders and expects them to becarried outor else. Although it was very warm,Tammy shivered. She waited until he came withinspeaking distance.

`Yes?' it was spoken brusquely as if to say stateyour business and let me go about mine.

Tammy didn't feel this was a very good beginning.Surely the Agency had let him know she was coming.

`You wanted help,' she said. `I've just arrived.'The information did not appear to help matters,

in fact quite the opposite. She saw his eyes narrow,

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and noted that they were grey. She wondered what

they looked like when he smiled.

` Have you?' he drawled. 'Well, young lady, you

can hightail it right back to town.'

Even with the southern drawl the voice managed

to somehow sound insulting. 'Aren't you rather

young for this sort of thing?' he queried coldly.

Tammy stared at him. She knew she didn't look

her age, she ought to have tied her hair back, it helped

a bit. Ì'm twenty-two, and I have qualifications,' she

replied equally coldly.

His smile was not a pleasant one. Ì'm sure you

have,' he drawled, 'but you really should have found

out a little more about me, you know. For instance, Iprefer taller, and shall we say more curved feminine

attractions. I can't say I'm even tempted.'

Tammy was getting a little tired of this uncavalier

treatment. What on earth did he mean by tempted ?

Then her eyes grew larger and she demanded indig-nantly, 'Do you want help or not ?'

He stared back at her, the ice in his eyes even more

prominent. 'You're English, aren't you?' She didn't

think that worth replying to. As she didn't answer,

he carried on. 'I want helpyesyour kind of help,

no. If you'll just wait along there,' he indicated the

end of the verandah that ran the length of the home-

stead where there were some cane chairs and loungers,

Ì'll see you get transport back to town. Good day to

you.'

He walked off and left Tammy blinking in astonish-

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ment. Of all the...! She walked to one of the cane

chairs and sat down. Her lips straightened. The more

she thought about it, the more she was inclined tothink she'd had a narrow escape. She wasn't tall

enough, and hadn't enough curves. Well ! She thought

of Maisie, one of the Agency girls, who had wanted

this assignment as it was nearer her home, but she had

still two weeks to go to complete her present one.

Maisie, she felt, would probably have fitted the bill,

she had curves to spare. She had saved Maisie from a

fate worse than death. She grinned, and wondered

whether Maisie would have been grateful, then grew

thoughtful again. As soon as she got back to the town,

she would get through to the Agency and let themknow what had happened. She would get this man

struck off the Agency list for a start. She glanced

nervously around her, hoping the transport he had

promised wouldn't be too long in arriving.

It wasn't. She heard the wheels crunch on the drivebefore it rounded the bend and a Land-Rover drew

up in front of the homestead. Tammy got up and

collected her case. The driver, a small wizened man

burnt almost black, gave her an odd quizzing look

as he opened the car door for her, then placed her

case in the back, got back in and started up. He didn't,

Tammy noticed, ask any questions. Tammy had an

odd feeling he was slightly embarrassed. He kept his

eyes on the road ahead, and it was not until they were

some way from the homestead that he spoke.

`It never comes off,' he said.

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Tammy started and stared at him. 'I beg your

pardon ? '

He continued to look ahead. 'Rick don't go forno gatecrashers,' he asserted.

` Gatecrashers ?' murmured Tammy, beginning to

feel out of her depth. Then she sighed. 'All right, call

me simple, but I haven't the faintest notion of what

you're talking about.'

He shot her a look under frowning brows. He

nodded his head back indicating the homestead they

had just left. 'Rick Hatton, wealthiest landowner this

side of the Southern territory. We've kinda got used

to this run. There's one thing you girls never take into

consideration, and that's that Rick has a mind of hisown. When he gets hitched, it'll be in his own time,

and with a girl of his choosing, and not with any

townie, that's for sure.'

Tammys eyebrows shot up and she stared at the

man, then started to chuckle as the whole ridiculoussituation became clear. The man gave her an uneasy

sideways look.

`S -sorry,' she gurgled, 'but I'm just beginning to get

the picture. You see,' she managed to get out, 'I

c-couldn't understand why I was shot off the place

w-without even my qualifications being checked. Oh,

dear,' she went on, managing to stop chuckling, 'it's

not really funny. It's a long way to come for this

kind of treatment.' She straightened her hat. 'Well,

one thing is certain,' she said grimly. 'If Mr Rick

Hatton still wants a secretary, he can want. I wouldn't

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take the job if they offered me double pay !'

The man's mouth fell open. He put his foot on

the brake, stopped, and turned round to look atTammy.

`You mean you really had a legitimate reason for

coming ?' he said, pushing his weathered hat off his

brow.

She gave him a pitying look, then relented. It

wasn't his fault, after all. 'What's your name ?' she

asked.

` Danny. Just Danny,' he answered.

` Well, look, Danny, in spite of what everybody

seems to think about Mr Hatton's attraction for the

opposite sex, he leaves me stone cold. Contrary to yourand apparently his misconception, I came, or I

thought I came, in answer to an advertisement given

to the agency I work for.'

He stared at her. 'Say, you really are a Pommie,

aren't you ?'`I should have thought that was obvious,' she

replied. 'I've only been in this country six weeks.'

He grinned. 'Well, you know with all those posh

accents they're turning out from the big cities these

days, it's a bit hard to tell the real thingmind you,

a lot put it on, hoping to impress Rick. Cuts no ice

with him, though.'

`I shouldn't think even a diamond cutter would

get through that exterior,' she said tartly.

He looked hurt. 'Now just you hold on, young lady,

I've known Rick since he cut his first tooth. One of

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the best, he is. Can't blame a fellow for gettingsoured on the opposite sex. If you knew what tricks

they got up to to wangle a stay at his place, youwouldn't believe it.' He stared out at the faint out-line of hills before them. 'Not to mention his marunning off with a feller and leaving him and his dadwhen he was a young 'un,' he muttered.

Tammy sighed. So some of it made sense. Still, it

was no reason why Rick Hatton should take it outon every female in sight. She said as much to Danny.This produced another of his grins.

Well,' he drawled, wouldn't say he takes it outon them exactly. He's no monk, if that's what you're

thinking. He appreciates a pretty girl as much as thenext man, as long as they know their place, that is.'He turned to Tammy again. 'You said an agencysent you ? You don't look like a fifty-year-old house-keeper to me.'

Tammy felt she was going mad. 'I should hopenot !' she exclaimed indignantly. This produced an-other grin from her companion.

Well,' he told her, 'that's what he wants.'`If,' said Tammy slowly, 'I don't get things straight

very soon, I think I shall go raving mad !' She took

a letter out of her handbag and looked- at it again,then silently handed it to to Danny.

His brows shot up as he read it. Tut you want Jim

Hampton's place,' he said. It's the other side of town.'He scratched his head under his hat, then with another

grin said, 'I can see where the mistake came in. Rick'sII


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place is called Wamoshanta, Jim's Wamanta.' He

looked back at Tammy. 'See ?' he said, as if that

explained everything.` No,' ground out Tammy, who was feeling tired

and slightly depressed. 'How do I get to whatever

it's called, then ?' she asked.

Danny let in the clutch and as the car moved for-

ward said nonchalantly, 'No trouble, I'll take you

there.'

Tammy heaved a heartfelt sigh of relief. At last !

Soon they came in sight of the township. It was

not as small as the Agency thought it was. Mr Selby

had rooted out a map to show Tammy the area she

would be working in. He had called the town a 'smallplace', but she would be able to more or less get her-

self anything she required during her two months'

assignment.

Wooden buildings nudged one another; Tammy

caught sight of several stores, and a glimpse of at

least one hotel as they drove through the main street.

Presently they were on the outskirts of the town, and

from here the roads were more in the nature of tracks.

Soon they were passing a small pine forest and beyond

that Tammy saw the outline of some buildings high

up on a distant hill.

`That's it,' said Danny, nodding to where Tammy

was staring. 'Good man, Jim, you'll be all right there.

Got a daughter, be company for you.'

They entered the homestead grounds and soon

came upon several buildings sprawled in spacious

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comfort around the large paddock they were passing.

Tammy caught sight of dairy cattle out to pasture in

the distance. This is more like it, she thought; it wasstill vastly different from the farms at home, here therewas so much more space. She heard the clank of cansas they passed one long shed and guessed it was themilking shed. As her eyes roamed over the vast- pro-portions of the farm, she recalled the farms she had

often accompanied her father to on his visits during theweekends in an emergency in his capacity as veterin-

ary surgeon.

She felt a brush of sadness; those days had gone,but they had been days of happiness. After her

father's death, she had hoped to be allowed to stayon in the same position. His practice was taken overby another vet, and as house and surgery were com-bined she had hoped to find accommodation in thenearby village and keep her job as secretary and

surgery attendant. However, her hopes had beenquickly dashed after meeting the new vet's wife. Shehad been nauseatingly polite, but made it quite clearthat they did not intend recruiting any help until theyhad really settled in. Tammy couldn't imagine herhelping her husband in the surgerynot with those

delicate tinted nails and well kept hands. She couldn'thelp wondering rather spitefully how the vet's wifewould react to a resectomy. They would have to havehelp, of course. It was just that they didn't want

Tammy.

Jonathan had grinned when she had told him

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furiously that she couldn't see why she shouldn't be

kept on. 'Look in the miror, dear,' was his only com-

ment. Her thoughts ran on. Jonathan, the real reasonshe was here, she shrugged impatiently; she had had

a rather trying day without thinking about Jonathan,

and getting further depressed.

They turned off from the farm section and went up

a small drive eventually coming to the homestead

itself. This was a sprawling ranch-type bungalow set

in well kept grounds. Lawns and flowering shrubs,

borders of gay flowers made it a delightful setting. It

wasn't on quite so grand a scale as the Hatton pro-

perty, but Tammy wasn't complaining.

The screen doors had opened by the time the cardrew up in front of them and a large homely-looking

man in his fifties came towards them with an anxious

expression on his face.

Danny spoke. 'Hi, Jim. Got your secretary here

was some kind of a mix-up, and she landed up atRick's place.' He threw Tammy a sly grin. 'She kinda

got the treatment.'

Tammy threw him an indignant look, then turned

her attention to the man who was holding a large

horny hand out to her. Relieved that her boss was

nothing like her last unfortunate encounter, she placed

her hand in his.

`Miss Dainton?' he asked, pumping her hand.

` Gosh, young lady, am I pleased to see you! Rick's

housekeeper turned up here, I sent her off not more

than half an hour ago. I've been burning up the wires

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from here to Adelaide, and they told me you'd left. I

was beginning to get worried about you.'

Tammy withdrew her hand, feeling as if it hadbeen put through a wringing machine. She couldn't

h elp feeling sorry for the unfortunate housekeeper.

S he did hope she would turn out to be a formidable

woman who would make even the masterly Rick

Hatton mind his manners.

Still talking, Mr Hampton swept her into the home-

s tead, and as she listened to his almost fatherly concern

about her recent misadventure, she rather felt like

bursting into tears. It was just tiredness, she thought.

` Mind you, no call to blame Rick,' he went on,

ushering her into what appeared to be a lounge.`Pretty persistent, some of those females, you know.

They always manage to sprain an ankle, or run out

of juice just outside his station.' He grinned, showing

several gold fillings. 'Mind you, I keep telling him it's

time he settled down, stop that lark for good and all.'He settled Tammy in a comfortable large cane chair

and gave her a quick searching stare. 'Tired, are you ?

I'll get Paula to show you your room. You have a rest

until dinner. Paula will look after you.' He turned and

called the name loudly.

A young girl shortly entered the room; her fair

hair was pulled back in a pony-tail, she wore jeans and

T-shirt. This must be the daughter, Tammy thought.

She smiled rather uncertainly at.Tammy as the intro-

ductions were made.

`Show Miss Dainton her room, Paula, and tell

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Esme-to get dinner at sixon the dot, mind you,' he

ordered, and left the girls together.

`This way,' said Paula shyly.Tammy followed her through the large airy living

room, then through the dining room and down a pas-

sage. At the end of the passage Paula stopped and

opened a door. 'Here's your room,' she said. 'My

room's next door. The bathroom and shower's across

there.' She indicated the door opposite.

She followed Tammy as she went into her room.

Tammy's case was sitting on the rug beside the bed.

The room was homely without being fussy. The bright

candlewick bedspread brought the only note of colour

into the room, yet it was ample, and the dark highlypolished furniture shone with a beauty of its own. It

was very old, handed down, Tammy surmised,

through the years from father to son. The only new

piece was a modern dressing table that looked slightly

out of place against the heavy dark red wood.

She turned to find Paula's intent brown eyes fixed

on her. She smiled at her. 'It's a lovely room,' she

murmured, hoping to put the younger girl at her ease.

'Bit old-fashioned,' said Paula, 'but Dad won't hear

of any changes.' She nodded to the dressing table. 'He

bought that when he knew you were coming' Shegave .Tammy a quick look. 'You're from England,

aren't you ?' She sat down on the bed and gazed at

Tammy earnestly. 'What's it like? Dad came out

when he was a boy, but he's always saying- he'd like

to go back just once.' Her fingers traced the pattern


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of the bedspread, and she sighed. "I don't think heever will, he's always getting mixed up in local

affairs.'Tammy sat beside her. 'Well, Paula, it's not muchdifferent from here. I mean, there's green belts, andhouses and towns.' She stopped and grinned. 'Listen

who's talking ! I've only been six weeks in the country,and most of that time was spent in Adelaide. Tell you

what, you ask me in another six weeks' time and may-be I'll be able to point out the differences.'

Paula grinned back. Tammy noticed how her facelit up, giving her an almost elfin quality.

`Do I have to call you Miss Dainton ? We use chris-

tian names out here, what's yours ?'Tammy grimaced. Tabitha,' she announced with

a gleam in her eye, daring Paula to laugh.Paula cast her a mischievous look. 'Honestly ?' she

asked.

Tammy nodded gloomily. Tut please call meTammy, everybody does.'`Tammy, then,' said Paula, giving her a critical

look. 'It suits you,' she said, then glanced at her watch.

`Gracious, I'll be late for dinner, and Dad will befurious, he likes dinner on time.' She rushed to the

door. 'Give you ten minutes for your shower,' shecalled, 'then I bags,' and she was gone.

Hastily unpacking the necessary items for her ablu-

tions, Tammy had the shower and unpacked the restof her case. She smoothed the linen dress she meant

to wear out on the bed. It was lime green, and said

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to be uncrushable, but Tammy felt she had been had.There were a few pleats where none should be, she

sighed, but on further inspection of her other dresses,they were a ll m ore or less in the sa m e state. She didn't

suppose it would really matter. Mr Hampton and his

daughter didn't seem the type to stand on ceremony.

Just as she w as b rushing her ha ir, Paula joined her.

She too had donned a dress, it was a blue gingham,

plain but attractive. Her hair had been combed out of

its pony-tail and she looked older than she had at first

appeared.

`Ready ?' she asked.

Tammy - nodded, and the girls went back along the

pa ssa ge .to the living room .Mr Hampton was waiting for them with a tall

rangy young man with a thin sensitive face and dark

wiry hair. Both men were similarly dressed in khaki

drill trousers and white shirts. Mr Hampton intro-

duced the young man. 'My jackaroo, Gerry Teller.

Gerry, this is Miss Dainton.' He coughed. 'Er.. .'

Tammy laughed. 'Please make it Tammy,' she said,

an d glanced at Pa ula as she did so, wondering whether

she was going to let her down, but Paula grinned back

at he r in a conspiratorial fas hion and held her tongue.

Gerry's brown eyes appreciatively acknowledgedTammy as he held out a large hand to her. 'Pleasure,'

Tammy.

Dinner was served shortly afterwards by a stout

motherly-looking woman with grey plaited hair woven

round her head, who gave Tammy a welcoming smile.

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This was Esme. Tammy learnt later that she wasDutch, wife of one of the dairymen. Esme acted as

housekeeper, cook, and generally saw to the wellbeingof the household. The rough work was carried out bytwo aboriginal women, liable, she learnt, to disappearfrom time to time on what was known as walkabout.The meal consisted of roast lamb, potatoes, and

green peas. The servings were enormous to Tammy'sway of thinking, but the others had no trouble indemolishing, their helpings. The sweet was a jamsponge, beautifully cooked, but even so, Tammy wasunable to do full justice to either course.

Mr Hampton urged her to try to finish her sweet.

`You could do with some fattening up,' he told her.Tammy chuckled and surprised Gerry into a grin.

`Careful, Jim,' he said in a husky voice that Tammythought rather attractive. 'Young ladies like to watchtheir figures.'

Smiling, Tammy replied, 'It's not that. I'm afraidI'm what's known as the greyhound variety, nothingI eat makes the slightest difference.' She looked at heremployer s'I'm afraid you've got your work cut out ifyou want toerfatten me up.'

Jim Hampton nodded across at Paula. 'Same thingthere. Eats more than I do sometimes, and look ather, takes after her mother.'

Gerry, who had been silent during these exchanges,gave Tammy a shy smile. 'You'll do,' he said.

Paula's eyes opened wide, and she hastily concen-

trated on her plate.

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They had coffee on the verandah where it was cool.

Gerry sat next to Tammy and offered her a cigarette.

He didn't say much, and Tammy gathered he wasn't

much of a talker. She was learning more each day

about Australian men.

Mr Hampton questioned her about the Old Coun-

try, as he put it, and she was able to bring him up to

date with the local politics and the state of the coun-

try. They were still talking an hour later when a car

turned in the drive. It was quite dark by then and

large stars were gleaming in the midnight blue sky.

The car door slammed and a voice that Tammy

wouldn't forget in a hurry drawled over the interven-

ing space,`Evening, Jim, any coffee going?'

`Sure, Rick, come on over,' replied Jim Hampton.

Tammy got up and excused herself quickly before

the tall figure joined them. 'If you would excuse me,

Mr Hampton, I'm awfully tired. It's been a long day.

Goodnight, Paula, Gerry.' She walked swiftly towards

the screen doors.

`I'd like a word with you, Miss Dainton,' requested

Rick Hatton, making it sound more like an order.

Tammy froze and turned round slowly. He had

walked over to her, not giving her much chance toavoid the encounter. She stared at him. 'Well ?' she

asked coldly. His face was partially hidden in shadow,

but she sensed he was grinning. He was ! She caught

the white glint of his teeth.

`Seems,' he drawled slowly, 'I owe you an apology.'

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That was all he said. It didn't sound like an apologyto Tammy. 'Do you ?' she answered in the same cold

voice. 'What exactly for ?'She heard the indrawn breath, and could have

sworn he made a slight move towards her. However,he straightened.

`I didn't,' he said, and this time the drawl was more

pronounced, 'give you what might be termed as arousing welcome.'

She looked calmly back at him. 'Well, don't worryabout it,' she said airily. 'Mr Hampton's since madeup for it. I can't help thinking I've been very lucky inmy employer.' She turned towards the others, com-

pletely ignoring the man standing with clenched fistsbeside her. 'Goodnight, everyone,' she said, and calmly

walked into the homestead.

Fuming as she undressed, she flung off her shoes.Couldn't make it as simple as just a good old-

fashioned sorry, could he? Oh, no, Mr High andMighty Rick Hatton had to make it sound a debat-able point. She had a shower, and was brushing herhair when 'Paula burst in.

`Tammy! Do you know what you've just done?You've just declared war on the big white chief !'

Tammy glanced at her. 'Good,' she said brightly.Where do I collect the war-paint?'

Paula giggled, then sobered again. 'No, honestly,Tammy, I don't think you know what you've takenon. Nobody, but nobody, answers Rick back, let alone

turns their back on him.'

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`Then it's high time they did,' Tammy remarkedcalmly. 'It does us all good to be taken down a peg ortwo. That way we don't get too exalted an opinionof ourselves.'

`Tammy !' giggled Paula. 'You sound just like myteacher in Adelaide.'

Tammy grinned and met Paula's eyes in the mirror.'I only talk that way when I'm good and maddon't

worry, Paula, it doesn't happen often.'The subject was dropped for the time being and the

girls chatted amiably until Paula was ready for bed.Tammy learnt that she was attending college inAdelaide, and was just seventeen. She had bemoaned

the fact that she would be away during the week, asit was too far for her to travel daily in to Adelaide,and accommodation had been found for her with adistant relative residing in the city. 'I shall be home atthe weekends, though, Tammy,' she informed her. 'Idon't really miss much during the week and I'm here

for our Saturday dancethere's one tomorrow night.You must come.'

Before Tammy fell asleep she thought about thedance Paula seemed determined to drag her to. 'Imight go at that,' she murmured drowsily to herself.

Providing a certain 'big white chief' wasn't attending.

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CHAPTER TWO

TAMMY woke early the following morning to find

the room flooded with sunlight. She lay for a moment

or so getting her bearings, then recalled the previousday's events. She could see no problems over her first

assignment for the Agency and she was looking for-

ward to actually starting work. Her fortnight spent

working at the Agency's headquarters in Adelaide had

prepared her for the sort of work she would be calledupon to do on the various assignments she would be

given, be it outback station, farm, or just ordinary

plain business premises. The agencies were not short

of work, the problem was staff to cope with the flood

of work that they were asked to cater for. Tammy had

been given the choice of three, and had chosen the

farm on the outskirts of the famous Barossa Valley,

seventy-five miles from Adelaide. 'And I'm going to

love it, I just know I am,' she murmured.

Her thoughts turned back to home. It was Feb-

ruary, the second, to be precise. She wondered if itwas snowing, and for one tiny second she felt a stab

of heartache. She quickly dismissed these thoughts,

and thought about Jonathan. She was still a little

peeved over the incident at the airport. He had agreed

to her getting away for a while and finding her own

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feet since her world had been rocked by the sudden

death of her father. It had been Jonathan who had

seen to everything, his shoulder she had cried on, and

his home she had been taken to to recover slowly.

Jonathan had taken up residence with his mother

in the village only three years before. They had bought

the old manor once belonging to the squire, now de-

ceased. He had made the acquaintance of Tammy

shortly afterwards by taking a labrador pup for aninoculation, and began a determined pursuit of her

from then on. Tammy, being a modest girl, had been

somewhat taken back; he was good-looking, wealthy

and amusing to be with and could have had his

choice of a number of hopeful girls. It did not occurto her to take a good look at herself in the mirror and

see h erself as others sa w h er. He r long b lue-b lack ha ir,

framing her heart-shaped face, and her wide lovely

pansy blue eyes fringed b y long dark lash es, might have

given her the answer.

Jonathan made an immediate hit with her father

- and became a frequent visitor at her home. Tammy

ought to have fallen in love with him, but she didn't.

It wasn't long before she found herself in an awkward

dilemma. The whole village expected them to marry,

and so did his mother. Jonathan thought it was onlya question of time, and was confident he would wear

her down in time. On the surface he was gay and

amusing, but Tammy had come to recognise the

quiet determination that lay under the facade: Owner

of an extremely successful wine export and importing

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business, he was nobody's fool. Now she had lost herfather she was completely alone in the world, having

lost her mother when she was still a toddler; she hadno real memories of her, her father had been all inall to her and they had been very close.At first she had been so numb she had just let

Jonathan take over, but as she had slowly risen outof the cocoon stage, she began to realise how much

of her life he had taken over. Little chains were beingwoven about her. Soon she knew she had to eitherbreak free or succumb to the gentle but relentlesspressure being placed on her. She had broken free.At least, frowned Tammy, she had made the attempt.

She had thought that Jonathan had taken it excep-tionally well; there was nothing really he could doabout it, she was of age and could please herself.

She recalled her feelings on the plane coming out,of sheer relief. He had understood. He wasn't hurt.

All would be well, but when she'd spotted an em-ployee of his on the plane trying to look as if heweren't there, she began to see a little daylight. Jona-than intended to keep watch over her even on theother side of the world. Her destination was Sydney.

After arrival, she booked in at the hotel Jonathan had

recommended, had tea, freshened up, and bookedout again. Jonathan, she knew, had connections inSydney. It would be no easy task, she mused as shewatched the porter place her cases in the taxi, to finda major city he hadn't connections in. The wine im-

porting and exporting business had far-reaching2 5


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tentacles.

After giving the matter some thought she plumped

for Adelaide. Jonathan also knew she intended takingup work eventually and had suggested giving her

some introductions to friends of his. Tammy had tact-

fully refused, pointing out to him that the whole idea

of her going was to stand on her own two feet. He had

given her a sardonic look and murmured, 'When

you've had enough, send for me, I'll be waiting.' And

that, thought Tammy was the whole problem, he

hadn't taken her no for an answer.

She had an astute guess as to why he hadn't put

up much resistance to her going away. Tammy was a

home-loving soul. She had loved the village life andhad been perfectly content to go on in the same old

vein had her life not been suddenly disrupted. Lone-

liness would be a new and rather daunting experience

for her. She had faced this fact squarely, but was cer-

tain she would soon make friends. She had had no

clear idea what sort of a job she would get. A trained

secretary, she knew she would have no problem in

getting employment, but the thought of working in an

ordinary office appalled her. She had been spoilt, of

course. Working for a veterinary surgeon was anything

but ordinary; she would not, for instance, be likely tofind herself closeted in the office with a basket of

kittens, one of which seemed intent on committing

suicide by wandering towards a groggy but neverthe-

less vicious terrier recovering from an operation.

Neither would she find herself competing with a parrot

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while shouting instructions down the phone to a

worried owner of a puppy who had swallowed a

rubber bone, in desperation she had had to ask the

distraught owner to hold on while she searched for a

cover to place over the wretched bird's cage perched

on the edge of her desk; it was either that or give the

phone to the parrot and be done with it !

The thought had occurred to her to seek similar

work, but Tammy felt it would bring back too many

painful memories. Later perhaps, but now she needed

to get right out of her old environment. Her problem

was solved when someone handed her a paper on the

plane. Idly looking through the advertisement

columns, she spotted the Agency's advertisement.They required trained office help willing to travel and

work for specific periods as temporary secretaries.

Tammy smiled. It was ideal. Not only would she see

the country, she would also be out of Jonathan's

kindly but over-possessive reach.

A knock on the door brought Tammy out of her

reverie. She answered, and a small slight Aboriginal

girl sedately dressed in a pink overall entered with

a tray of tea.

Tammy thanked her and enquired her name. This

produced a giggle and 'Mary, Missy,' then overcomeby shyness the girl rushed out of the room.

Sipping her tea, Tammy glanced at her watch. It

was seven o'clock. She knew breakfast was at eight

and thought she would have ample time to get dressed

and wander round the grounds before the meal. She

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had forgotten Paula whom she met coming out ofthe shower.

`Hi,' Paula greeted her. 'Like to come to tennis thismorning ?' she asked.Tammy regretfully turned the invitation down.

Mr Hampton would have plans for her, she was sure,

apart from showing her the office routine.Well then,' went on Paula, 'you'll come to the

dance tonight, won't you?'`I might,' mused Tammy, then asked as a thought

struck her, `Will he be there?'Paula giggled, knowing full well who Tammy was

referring to. 'We couldn't have a dance without him,'

she explained. 'Half the female population in the town-ship would be disappointed if he didn't turn up.'

`Then the answer is no,' Tammy said with finality.

Paula laughed delightedly and pointed an accusingfinger at. Tammy. 'You're scared of him !' she said.

I am not,' replied Tammy indignantly.`Prove it, then, and come,' challenged Paula.`I don't know anybody,' said Tammy slowly. 'I'm

not a one for do's, you know.'`You know me and Gerry,' laughed Paula. Gerry's

going to be awfully disappointed if you don't come,'she said slyly.

Tammy looked startled. 'Gerry ?'

`He said you'll do, didn't he ?'Well?' queried Tammy.

When,' Paula explained patiently, 'Gerry says that,

he means you'll do for him.'

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`Paula, you're joking ! Aren't you ?' pleadedTammy.

Grinning, Paula replied, 'You could do a lot worse,his people have got a big ranch out in Queensland.'`Hold on'!' exclaimed Tammy, slightly alarmed.

`I've only been here five minutes and you're marryingme off already. I'm your father's secretary, remember ?'

Paula was plainly enjoying herself. 'Oh, that,' she

shrugged.Later that day Tammy found her resolution not to

attend the dance meeting stiff opposition. The wholehomestead appeared to gang up on her, even MrHampton. 'We don't get much in the way of festivities

here, Tammy, these dances are only held in the quietseason, so you might as well enjoy them while theylast? Tammy knew she was going to the dance

whether she liked it or not.She had spent an interesting day divided between

the office-cum-study and wandering about the grounds.Her first opinion of her new boss had not been mis-placed. She found herself warming to this bluff, out-spoken but kindly man. As she watched him takingout files and explaining the office procedure, she

wondered how long ago he had lost his wife. She had

the feeling it was perhaps when Paula was a baby.There were no outward signs of real feminine interestin the homesteadfurniture arrangement, decorationssuch as there were, all appeared to be more for com-fort's sake than for impression.

`Anything you're not sure of, just ask,' he told her.

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`If I'm not around, make a note of it and see me atdinnerand now, young lady,' he said, firnily closing

the filing cabinet, 'it's Saturday. I'm not going to askyou to do anything else but enjoy yourself. We'll startthe paper work on Monday.' He gave her a crinkledgrin that lit up his face.

Tammy wandered over the farm. She wonderedhow many acres it occupied. Moving away from thebuildings, she saw fields of maize and some of wheat,the golden yellow plainly visible from afar. Of thecattle grazing she realised with a spurt of pleasurethey were Jerseys and Friesians. She breathed in thesoft air and let her gaze pass beyond the fields of cattle.

Splashes of pink and white met her gaze and she knewthey were orchards. Farther down the valley shethought of the acres of vines they had passed on the

way up. What was it that Len the Agency truck driverhad uttered every now and again as they had passed

a particularly fertile section? She frowned in concen-tration, then it came to her. He'd said, 'It's beaut.' She

sighed in deep contentment; he was right, it was beaut.

After ascertaining from Paula what she ought towear for the dance and getting out a dress that didnot look too plain, she sat in front of her dressing

table mirror and debated on what to do with herhair. It was naturally curly, and she had alreadydecided to sweep it back for office duties, but would

have preferred to let it hang loose as it felt more com-

fortable that way. She sighed and started to sweep it

back again from her face. Paula came in just as she

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as clipping it back.`Tammy! ' she exclaimed. 'It's much nicer down,

why do you want to scrape it back? I wouldn't dothat to mine if it was as curly as yours.'Taking the pins out, Tammy let it fall back and

grinned at Paula in the mirror. 'It's more comfortable

this way too,' she said, then looked at Paula's dress.It was a light cotton one of pale blue, white stitching

edged the square-shaped neck, and round the hem ofthe dress. Paula blushed with pleasure when Tammy

complimented her on her choice.`You don't,' she answered saucily, 'look so dowdy

yourself,' as she eyed Tammy's deep orange silk dress.

It had a mandarin collar and gave Tammy anoriental look. 'You should always wear that colour,Tammy, it suits you,' she said, her brown eyes can-

didly approving.The girls were collected by friends of Paula at

eight o'clock and bundled into the back of a bigChevrolet. The journey took about twenty minutes.

The hall was full by the time they arrived. Tammyhad some kind of a notion it would be a sort of squaredance effort, and was surprised to find a band in

attendance and not a couple of fiddlers and pianoplayer. Spotting Gerry, she grinned, a little relievedthat there was one male present she could rely on todance with. To all appearances there was no difference

from an ordinary dance at home, except for two facts,

one being that the men stayed strictly to themselves on

one side of the hall, the second that they appeared to

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be much taller and broader and all deeply tanned.As she glanced at them her eyes lighted on the tall

figure of Rick Hatton and she stiffened. He stood outin a crowd with that blond colouring of his. He had asmall clutch of men around him listening with greatattention to whatever theme he was expounding on,Tammy wrinkled her nose; that was one gentlemanshe devoutly hoped she would not encounter thatevening.

The band started up, but no one took the floor.Tammy thought this rather odd. There were severalcouples obviously ready to dance, but something washolding them back. She glanced at Paula.

`Rick always takes the floor first,' she explained.`It's a courtesy, as he more or less owns the town.'

Then her eyes grew wide as she stared in front of her.Tammy followed her glance. Rick Hatton was stridingtowards them in a purposeful manner. Tammy's chin

went up and she looked right through him. Undeter-red, he kept on coming. Tammy was sure he was goingto ask Paula to dance and stared up almost unbeliev-ingly at him as he stood before her and held out hishand

` Miss Dainton,' he said. Tammy was on the pointof hastily thinking up some excuse when he caughther hand and pulled her forcefully to her feet andkeeping a tight hold on her propelled her to the dancefloor. With clenched teeth he informed her, 'Pm afraidyou have no choice.'

Tammy was thunderstruck. Rick whirled her into

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the dance, his arm was clamped round her waist likea band of steel. Other couples started to dance. He

didn't say another word. When the dance was over,he led her back to her seat and left her.

Paula stared after him, 'Well !' she exclaimed. 'Iknew you'd upset him, I told you so, didn't I ?'

Tammy looked at her, one eyebrow raised. 'Whydid he ask me to dance ?' she asked, slightly puzzled.

Paula was still working out the implications. 'That's

ruined Gerry's chance tonight,' she said. 'It's a bitodd, though, Rick bringing you back here I mean.Usually he takes them to what we call the top table,'she nodded towards a partitioned-off section at the

end of the hall where tables and chairs had been set.`It's for the town dignitaries.'

Well, I'm thankful for that at least,' retortedTammy. 'What did you mean by him spoiling Gerry's

chances ?' she asked.

`Rick not only starts the dance off but chooses' hisgirl for the evening, and like I said he takes them to

join him,' Paula explained.`I'm not his girl or ever likely to be !' Tammy

retorted indignantly.

Well, you're his girl tonight,' said Paula. 'It's therules. Gerry can't break them. You've been bookedfor the evening.'Tammy didn't think she liked the way they ran

things around this township. When the band struckup again, she looked round to locate the cloakroom.

If she saw Rick coming she would make a dive in that

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direction. But she didn't have to bother. When sheglanced back at the dance floor he had already chosen

a partner for that dance.Paula stared and for the second time muttered,

Well !' Tammy waited to be enlightened. 'He's never

done such a thing before, he must be furious,' Paulaexclaimed.

Once again the position had to be outlined to her,and this time it was Tammy's turn to be furious. 'Inother words, Paula, he's insulted me publicly,' she said

slowly.Paula's eyes were wide and she nodded, then said

hastily, 'Don't worry, Tammy, Rick's a law unto him-

self. I don't suppose many people will notice.'Won't they ? thought Tammy. She glanced around

and surprised a few people giving her curious glances.

No, she thought, clenching her teeth, they won't notice.Not much ! This then was his reply to her cool

reception of his dubious apology. What was she ex-pected to do ? Go down on one knee and thank him ?

When she recalled his actual words on that first meet-ing she got madder. Even if she had been a gatecrasher,

as Danny had put it, there was no need for Rick to get

so personal. Tammy was a fair-minded person. Hadhis apology been anything like sincere she would havewillingly have accepted it. She was not a person tohold a grudge. But she had sensed the arrogance be-

hind his 'It seems I owe you an apology', and hadacted accordingly. For one moment earlier on, she

had wondered whether asking her to dance was

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another way of trying to say he was sorry. Her lipsstraightened. Instead he had handed her another

insultin front of the townsfolk at that.`Paula, is there any chance of getting a lift back tothe farm ?' she asked.

Paula stared at her. 'You can's, Tammy. Rick might

just have decided to have this dance with someoneelse and come back for you afterwards.'

Òh, no, he won't,' said Tammy. 'He did thatdeliberately, and I'm not hanging around to beInsulted again.'

Paula looked worried. 'We can't ask the Wilsons to

take us back, Tammy, not till the dance is over,' she

almost wailed.A partner turned up then for Paula and off she

went, leaving Tammy feeling lost. A few minutes later

Gerry joined her. His eyes were smouldering, andTammy could guess the reason. So much for people

not noticing, thought Tammy; Gerry had noticed.Ì guess he's a little spoilt,' he murmured.

Tammy smiled at him. 'Gerry, could you take meback ?' she asked.

He looked at her, then nodded. 'Sure thing,' hesaid, and stood up. Ìf you'll give me a few momentsI'll make alternative travelling arrangements for a

couple of lads I brought in.'When Paula came back Tammy explained what

was happening. Paula wasn't too happy about it.Ìt might mean a bust-up between the two men,'

she sa id.

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Tammy smiled. 'Really, Paula, Rick's made hispoint. I could sink through the floor and he wouldn't

notice.'However, she was shortly proved wrong. As Gerryescorted her to the outside door, the tall figure of Rick

Hatton blocked their way.

`Going somewhere, Miss Dainton ?' he drawled.`Yes,' replied Tammy, meeting the bland gaze with

sparks in her eyes. 'Gerry has kindly offered to takeme back. I've got a headache.'

He then turned his attention to Gerry, who met his

gaze defiantly. 'I think the privilege is mine, you know,

Gerry,' he drawled softly.

Tammy sensed the tense situation that had arisenbetween the two men. Paula had been right.

Tor heaven's sake, I just want to go back to thefarm,' she said crossly. 'What's all the fuss about ?'

Rick Hatton calmly took her arm. 'Then you shall

go back,' he said, and led her out of the hall.Tammy stole a glance at her companion as theyleft the township; he had not uttered another wordsince saying she would go back. His profile seemedcarved out of ivory as he concentrated on the roadahead. Soon the homestead was in sight. As Rickpulled up in front of it, Tammy fumbled with thecatch to let herself out, but it appeared to be jammed.

He calmly reached over her and unlocked it. Tammyjumped out quickly.

`Thank you for the lift, Mr Hatton,' she said coldly.

`There's no need to escort me any further,' and she all

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but ran up the steps to the screen doors. She didn't'think it possible for a man of his size to move as fast

as he did, but he was before her as she reached out topush the door open.She stared up at him. Now what? she thought

crossly.

`There's another privilege owing, Miss Dainton,'he said softly.

Tammy started. She could guess what it was. Butwhy in heaven's name was he bothering ? Suddenlythe man in front of her appeared to be ten feet tall,and for the first time in her life Tammy felt utterly

defenceless.

`Shall we forget it, Mr Hatton ?' she said crisply,trying to still the panic waves pounding in her chest.

`But it's the best part of the evening, Miss Dainton,'

purred her tormentor. He was smiling, as if he sensed

her fear of him.

Tammy closed her eyes. 'Get it over with, then,' shesnapped, and put her face up for the kiss.He laughed and pulled her to him with a force that

knocked the breath out of her. She had been kissedbefore, Jonathan's kisses that were wild and forceful

at least she used to think they were, they had nothing

on the kiss she was being given by Rick Hatton. Heabsolutely pounded her. When he did let her go, herlips were stinging from his bruising treatment, and her

senses reeling. He released her abruptly, so abruptlyshe nearly fell against the door. She was gasping for

breath and felt she had come into contact with a

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tornado. With wide eyes she stared at Rick.`Next time,' he said quietly but with a hint of sup-

pressed fury, 'I shall expect a little more respect fromyou. No woman turns her back on me. Understand?This is my territory; if you want a fight you can haveit, but you'll lose hands down. I have a liking for myown way, which you'll very soon find out. Now go and

cry on your pillow.' He opened the door and all butpushed Tammy through it.

Tammy's legs felt weak. She prayed Mr Hamptonwouldn't stop her and enquire why she was back early.

She didn't stop until she had reached her room. Oncethere, she collapsed on her bed and sat staring straight

ahead. She was trembling all over. She couldn't everremember feeling so emotionally and physicallydrained. Of all the big bullies ! What on earth had he

done to her? Kissed her, yesbut something else had

entered into it. She shook her head bewilderedly.

Whatever it was, she was too tired to work it out. Shefelt the hot tears sting her eyes, and angrily shookthem away. She would not cry. The very fact that hehad told her to was enough to stem the tears. She gotup wearily and made her way to the shower.

She was asleep by the time Paula arrived back, andwas thankfully saved the necessity of explaining theresult of the evening.

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CHAPTER THREE

TAMMY settled in during the following week. MrHampton explained the business of dairy farming.

We're lucky, Tammy, we're reasonably near thetown, so in the milk zone, and we supply the localpopulation with milk as well as cream to the butterfactory. Part of the produce goes to the cheese factory,

nothing is wasted.'

The actual size of the farm made Tammy's eye-brows rise. Two thousand five hundred seemed a lotof acreage to her, but Mr Hampton informed her that

by Australian standards it was considered small.She found the work to be interesting and varied,

and found to her delight that she was not going to bechained to a desk all day. Certain parts of her dutiesconsisted of walking down to the dairy and collectingthe daily returns. In this way she met Esme's husband,

Fritz. As his name implied, Fritz was German, a small

spruce man with twinkling blue eyes. He came toAustralia originally, he informed Tammy, to seek landhoping to start a winery, but found the prices too high,

and not enough capital behind him. He still had hopes

of saving enough to make his dream come true.As Tammy wandered back to the homestead, she

wondered whether he ever would. He appeared quite

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content where he was, but one had to have dreams.Rounding the drive, she saw the large car parked

outside the homestead. She frowned; it was quiteimpressive. As she got closer she saw it was a Jaguar.She stiffened, sure now; it was Rick Hatton's. As shepassed the car she noted the soft leather of the up-holstery and remembered the night of the dance andher ride back in the car. Entering the homestead, she

heard the voices as she walked down the hall, andknew they were in the office. She stood still for a

moment, then changed direction smartly, deciding tokeep out of the way until Rick Hatton had finished his

business with Mr Hampton.

She glanced at her watch. It was coffee time, soshe sought out Esme in the kitchen. Esme was up to

her wrists in flour making scones.`Shall I make the coffee ?' Tammy enquired, glad

of an excuse to keep her out of the office.

Esme beamed her approval. 'Mr Hatton's come, soput another cup on the tray,' she said.Tammy hadn't thought of this. She had hoped Esme

would take the tray in to them, but after offering herhelp she couldn't very well refuse. 'Will do,' sheanswered, trying to sound cheerful about it. She

dawdled as long as she dared over making the coffee,hoping against hope that Rick Hatton had taken him-

self off, but when she eventually carried the tray fromthe kitchen to the office the drawling voice answeringa question of Mr Hampton's met her as she opened

the door.

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After one quick glance, she did not look at himagain. The office was reasonably sized, but even so,

the large frame of Rick Hatton diminished it. Feelinghis eyes on her, she laid the tray down. 'Thank you,Tammy,' beamed Mr Hampton. She poured thecoffee out, noting Rick Hatton had not even acknow-

ledged her presence. Well, it suited her. She had anawkward moment when she realised she did not know

whether he took white or black, and was forced toask. His reply was terseno thank you either, noticed

Tammy, her lips thinning. She handed Mr Hamptonhis, and placed Rick Hatton's on the desk beside him,avoiding as much contact as possible. Then she turned

to go, but Mr Hampton forestalled her.'Rick's brought some work for you,' he said, and

pointed towards the desk. Tammy looked and saw apile of brown envelopes neatly stacked beside thetypewriter. Her eyes sparkled. Just who was she work-

ing for anyway ? Her reaction did not go unnoticed byRick Hatton and his eyes narrowed. The sparks made

Tammy's eyes appear sapphire blue and they clashedwith the ice cold grey ones.

'His book-keeper's sick,' murmured Mr Hampton,uncomfortably aware of the sudden tension in the

room. Tammy bit her lip. It wasn't Mr Hampton'sfault, after all.

`Very well,' she replied. 'When do you require

them ?' she asked coldly.Rick did not reply for a second or so, and when he

did, it was in a soft voice that to Tammy's way of

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thinking was somewhat menacing. 'Would it strainyour capabilities too much if I asked for them at

four o'clock?'` Hold on, Rick,' exclaimed Mr Hampton. 'There's

at least fifty of those dockets, couldn't I send themback with Danny tomorrow morningyou won'twant them until then, will you?'

Utterly ignoring Mr Hampton's protest, RickHatton continued to watch Tammy steadily. 'Well?'he said coldly. 'You did say you had qualifications,didn't you ? I presume you do type with some adequatespeed using all your fingers. My book-keeper uses only

two, even so, he can clear them under an hour and a

half.'Tammy bristled, and Mr Hampton expostulated,

`Rick !'She answered in a low voice, striving hard to keep

her temper in check. 'Yes, Mr Hatton, I do use all

my fingerswe're trained that way, you know,' andsaw with some satisfaction his fists clench. 'However,'she continued icily, 'as I have no idea just what isrequired I can hardly set a time limit to the work.'

`That's fair enough, Rick,' burst in Mr Hampton.`Jack Tingston knows the work by heart, the namestoo.' He turned to Tammy. 'They're for the shearinggangs,' he explained. 'Each man has to have a docket,

you just need the name and lines underneath for sheep

sheared and time taken.' He picked up a list from thedesk and handed it to her. 'All the information's

here.'

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Tammy looked at it. 'I can have these done byfour o'clock, Mr Hatton,' she said smoothly, still

perusing the list and not looking up at him.His 'Thank you,' was more sarcastic than grateful.On the excuse of collecting her coffee, she left

the office. On the way to the kitchen she found tor fury that she was actually trembling.Danny turned up at four o'clock sharp to collect the

ockets, primed no doubt to arrive on the dot, Tammy

ought sourly. He was cheerful and chatty. How was: he getting on with her boss ? Hadn't he said he wasair dinkum ? Tammy fervently agreed with him. She

hated to think that she might have been assigned to

the Rick Hattons of this world.Tammy did not see Rick Hatton for the rest of the

week, but she was made well aware of his existence.More work was sent down to her with cryptic notes in

his bold hand stating the precise time he expected the

work to be ready to be collected. She found herselfsomewhat bewildered. Mr Hampton seemed to haveno objection, as his own work was hanging fire, andTammy got more incensed. She mentioned that shecouldn't let him have the full summary of the milkreturns for that day, and Mr Hampton just smiled.`Don't worry, Tammy, they keep a record in thedairy as well. It can wait until tomorrow.'After he had left, she sighed. She had heard all

about the Australian mateship', but felt this was rather

overdoing things. Why couldn't the wretched man get

his own replacement ? Then she sighed again. She

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knew the answer, of course. It was a way of getting at

her. Why should he get a replacement when he could

annoy her?As the days went by she learnt more about RickHatton's affairs. He was what was known as a grazier.Sheep was his business. Wamoshanta was a station.She tried hard to carry out the work efficiently, for her

own pride's sake rather than a wish to please, but

mistakes were inevitable, particularly with the rigidtime limit schedule placed on it. On one occasion shehad not been able to decipher the book-keeper's

writing on some orders for equipment required. MrHampton's help was not available as he was out on

farm rounds, so she had no option but to try toguess the scrawled address, she hoped it was right,but thought crossly that it wouldn't hurt Rick Hattonto correct it himself before posting. Danny appearedfirst thing the next morning with the said envelope,

plus note. Tammy's cheeks grew hot as she read theblunt message. 'There is such a thing as a directory,use it !' she felt like screaming.

During these trying times, Gerry was a source ofconsolation. He would call in now and again, notthat he said much, but Tammy was grateful for thelittle attentions and rather dry sense of humour that .helped her get things back in perspective when herpatience had been sorely tried. However, in spite ofall these kindnesses, by the end of the week Tammy'snerves were decidedly the worse for wear, and she

devoutly hoped Rick Hatton's book-keeper had suffici-

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ntly recovered to resume his duties the following week.

.Paula came home at the weekend full of news of apicnic to be held on the Sunday at Wamoshanta.Well, it's more in the line of a barbecue,' she said.`The whole town's invited. I must say when Rickthrows a party, he throws a party !' she grinned.

Tammy said nothing. Here's one person that's going

to be very busy over the weekend, she promised.herself.

On Saturday morning Paula brought up the subjectf the dance again. 'Coming, Tammy ?' she asked

hopefully.

`No, thank you,' said Tammy hastily. 'I've got alot of letters to catch up with.'

`Poor Gerry,' sighed Paula with a glint in her eye.Tammy looked at her. 'Well, poor Gerry didn't get

much of a look in last time, did he ?' she murmured

sardonically.`Oh, phooey, that was only because Rick was madat you. He never stays mad for long. I bet he's for-gotten all about it. Be a sport, everyone will think itodd if you don't come.'

`They can think what they like,' said Tammy, 'butI'm not going to that dance and that's final.' As forRick Hatton having forgotten all about it, Tammycould have enlightened Paula on this fact, but decided

to hold her tongue, and she wasn't risking a dose oflast week's treatment.

Tammy wrote her letters. She had told the truth

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when she had said she was behind with her mail. Shehadn't really had time to write before, so much had

happened in the short space of time since she hadarrived. She debated whether to let Jonathan knowher address, but decided against it. You never knew

with him, he was just as likely to take it into his headto pay her a flying visit.

She had not long retired when Paula came back

from the dance and demanded to know if she wasawake. Tammy, who was about to doze off, rousedherself and blinked at Paula. 'Can't it wait till morn-ing ?' she yawned.

`You've upset Rick again,' accused Paula. 'I said

you ought to come to the dance, everybody was ask-ing after you.'

Tammy blinked and tried to make some sense ofwhat Paula was saying. Tor goodness' sake, Paula,'she said sleepily, 'if I don't feel like going to a dance,

I don't go. Be a dear and let me go to sleep, tell meall about it in the morning.'just thought I'd warn you, that's all,' said Paula.

`Rick came up to me and asked right out where youwere. He also noticed Gerry wasn't there either, andhe didn't like that one bit. He left early and was mad

as a hatter.'Tammy just smiled and snuggled down again. She

was asleep before Paula left the room.Paula sighed. Tammy just didn't understand the

kind of etiquette extended to a big white chief.

At breakfast next morning Tammy was treated to

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a lecture from Paula on this subject. Mr Hamptongrinned, but Gerry frowned.

` Idon't see what all the fuss is about,' he said inh is husky voice. 'Supposing Tammy was sick, she

couldn't have gone anyway.'Mr Hampton joined in the discussion. 'You see,

Tammy, these affairs are a sort of get-together. Ricklikes to feel we're all one big happy family. His father

started these dances years ago, and he keeps up thetradition. The same goes about this barbecue today.If someone doesn't turn up, and they haven't a legiti-mate excuse he sort of takes it as an insult. Nothingpersonal, you understand. Don't worry, I expect when

he thinks about it, he'll understand, he'll realise youcan't be expected to know our ways straight off. Ifyou explain that you had some mail to catch up onhe'll be okay about it.'

Tammy drank her coffee slowly. The point about

'one big happy family' struck her as slightly hysterical.She frowned. Was she to blame ? It was true shedidn't know their ways. Was it really possible to makepeace with Rick Hatton? It would hurt her pride, butperhaps she could try. He had said he hoped she wouldshow him more respect, was that what was annoying

him ? On each occasion she had stood up to him andrefused to be browbeaten. She sighed and put her cupdown. It wasn't going to be easy for her; she wouldhave to learn to douse her independent spirit. Australia

was a man's country, and when in Rome... She

looked up to find Gerry watching her, and smiled at

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him. 'Why didn't you go to the dance, Gerry?' sheasked. 'I trust you had a legitimate excuse ?'

Gerry grinned. 'No point,' he said quietly.Tammy blushed, then to cover her confusion shesaid brightly, 'Well, as you and I are in the doghouseI suggest we face the firing squad together. Will youhold my hand ?'

`Pleasure, ma'am,' he answered solemnly, his eyes

twinkling.At three o'clock Mr Hampton, Paula and Tammy

escorted by Gerry set off for Wamoshanta. Paula wore

a cool white linen dress, and Tammy wore her limegreen, both girls wore hats, Paula's a floppy white one,

and Tammy her one and only straw perched on top ofher springing curls. The men wore check shirts and the

khaki drill trousers that Tammy was beginning torecognise as almost a uniform in this part of thecountry.

Mixing with the crowd in the grounds, Gerry, trueto his word, stuck close to Tammy. When she saw the

tall figure of Rick Hatton approaching she clutchedGerry's arm. 'Now for it !' she said in a low voice.

Gerry grinned and pressed her arm against hisside. 'Courage, girl,' he murmured.

Rick Hatton stood looking at them, and Tammylooked at him. He wore a fawn shirt with dark browncorded trousershe would be different, thought

Tammy. It was a second or so before he spoke. Hiseyes lingered deliberately on Tammy's arm tucked

into Gerry's. 'So you are quite well, I see,' he draweld.

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Ice of you to find the time to attend.'`Oh, we made a point of it, didn't we, Gerry ?'

Tammy replied airily, completely forgetting her docilityresolution. Gerry's grin grew wider. `Sure did,' heagreed.

Rick Hatton's lips thinned, and she knew she had

put her foot in it again. For heaven's sake, she'd keepher mouth shut from now on !

He looked at Gerry. 'The boys could do with somehelp in getting the barrels over from the townhow

about it, Gerry ?' he asked softly.Gerry was silent for a second or so, then he said

slowly, 'Okay, boss.' He turned to Tammy. 'Keep me

a chicken leg, will you, honey ?' and he gently dis-engaged his arm from hers.

`Can't,' said Tammy desperately, `I help you ?'`No, you can't,' replied Rick Hatton between

clenched teeth. 'I've got something lined up for you

to do,' he caught her arm none too gently and placedit through his and turned her round towards the

crowd. Tammy attempted to pull away, but he onlyheld her firmer. 'You can see lover boy later. Rightnow I've got just the job for you.'They walked through the grounds to the home-

stead, but Tammy baulked at actually going in. Rickgave her an icy stare. 'It's work I have on my mind, so ,

don't get any wrong ideas. When I said I didn't gofor skinny types I meant it. So rest easy. You're not in

my league,' he ground out.

Tammy took a deep breath, He'd said it with such

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emphasis it couldn't fail to be called an insult. Thatdid it ! She was sorry for Mr Hampton, but she could

get him a replacement, she wasn't staying in this highand mighty territory a day longer than she had to !They had by now entered the house. Rick kept a

hold on her arm and propelled her through to aroom at the back of the house. It was an office. There

was a large desk holding pride of place against one

wall, and resting in the middle of it a typewriter. Rickall but threw her in the chair in front of the desk. He

got a folder out and flung it down before her.`There's some letters I want answered,' he said

curtly. 'My book-keeper's still off sick. You can see the

replies are pencilled in. If you can keep your mind offlover boy for an hour or so, I might have someanswers to post off tomorrow. Can do ?' he asked in a

voice that dared her to refuse.

There must, mused Tammy, be a typists' unionsomewhere. It was Sunday. However, she saw no point

in bringing the subject up. She glanced at him coldly.`You will, I hope, sign the necessary form ?' she

asked.His brows went up. 'What form ?' he demanded.She sighed and explained patiently, 'When we do

work for any other employerother, that is, than theone we're assigned towe have to have special clear-ance. Mr Hampton is not here to agree to my doing

the work, so I can't do it without your signatures '

He grinned. Tut I am your employer,' he said.

`Didn't you know ? . Wamanta belongs to me. Mr50


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ampton is just managing it for me.' He enjoyed theshock he had given her. 'So get typing,' he said quietly.

Before he left, he said, 'Any queries, just shout.'Tammy took it out on the typewriter. She poundedway with such force that the carbon copies came outas bright as the original.

E .

Rick came back just as she was finishing off the lastletter. He had either timed it right, or he was working

somewhere near and heard that she had finishedpunishing the typewriter. She placed the letters in a

- pile awaiting signature.`Finished ?' he asked curtly.

Tammy nodded. 'May I go now ?' she inquired

coldly.He shot her a caustic look. 'He'll keep,' he said.

`You wait until I've had a look at these letters. Youwouldn't want to be dragged back again if they'renot right, would you ?'

Tammy took a deep breath. Silently she watchedhim carefully read each one of the twelve letters. Thenhe placed them on one side. 'Good,' he said.

She walked to the door.`Sit down,' he ordered. 'There's no hurry.'

Tammy's eyes met his defiantly and she looked at

the door. 'I shouldn't,' he drawled.She resignedly shrugged her shoulders and stood'

waiting. Rick sat behind the desk and pointed to thechair in front of it. Tammy slowly walked back and

sat down.

Why didn't you come to the dance ?' he shot at her.

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Her eyes widened. 'Didn't Paula tell you ?' sheasked. 'I had some letters to write.'

His eyes narrowed. 'You've been here a week,couldn't you have found time to do them before, orhas Gerry been pestering you ?'

Tammy sat up at that. How dared he ! 'No, he hasnot !' she flashed out at him. And even if he had, it'sno business of yours.'

She saw his fists clench slowly. He looked down at

them. 'You've a very bad memory, haven't you ?' hesaid. 'I thought I'd made things clear to you not solong ago. It seems I didn't get the message through,'

Tammy flushed. She knew' what he was referring

to.`So,' he said softly, 'I'll tell you again. This is my

territory. Gerry is more or less under myshall wesay protection ? His father entrusted him to me toknock him into shape for station ownership. So you

see, Miss Dainton, it is my business. By the way, ifyou've any hope in that direction you'd better forgetthem. His family's one of the oldest in Queensland and

they're mighty fussy folk. I really feel they'd draw theline at an unknown typist.'

Tammy got up slowly. She had taken all she wasgoing to take. 'Have you quite finished ?' she managedto get out. 'I've got the message, thank you.' Shewalked to the door and kept on going until she wasout of die house.

She felt the hot tears sting her lids. It just didn't

make sense. It was more than pure dislike, it was

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persecution. Rick Hatton actually hated her. Whathad she done to deserve such treatment ? She could

well understand a clash of personalities, but this wentmuch deeper. Suddenly she felt a touch on her arms`Your handbag, Miss Dainton.'

`Thank you,' said Tammy, and didn't even botherto look back at him.

Gerry found her a little later, sitting on a stump

some way away from the main picnickers.He noted her white face. 'Are you all right,

Tammy ?' he asked anxiously.She managed to smile at him. She knew she had to

make some excuse. 'It's the heat, Gerry, I guess I'm

not used to it.'He seemed relieved. 'You'll soon get used to it.

Come and sit in the shade.'Once he had got her settled, he found her some

food. Tammy felt as if she'd choke if she attempted to

eat it, but she tried anyway.`Gerry !' tapped out that authoritative voice. 'Comeand give a hand, will you ?'

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CHAPTER FOUR

TAMMY rang up the Agency next morning. MrHampton had called in and given her a few letters

and various odds and ends to get on with, and lefther to it while he went on his rounds.

Mr Selby, the Agency manager, listened to herrequest politely. 'I'm sorry to be a nuisance,' she said,`but I've not been too well these last few days. I think

it's the heat. You did warn me, didn't you ? I waswondering whether it's possible to get Maisie to takeover from me, and if it's still going, I'll take that fruitfarm post you mentioned. I shall be sorry to leaveMr Hampton, I've no complaints in that direction.'

She couldn't think of anything else to add.Mr Selby's reception of her request relieved herinstantly. 'It fits in very well, as a matter of fact,' heinformed her. 'Maisie's just finished her last spell, she'sbeen moaning about not being able to get nearerhome, so this will make her day.'

Breathing a sigh of relief, Tammy asked, 'Howsoon, Mr Selby ?'

`Erjust a minute,' he said. She heard the rustleof papers as he looked something up. 'It's Mondaynowlet me see, Wednesdaythat suit you ? You can

come back on the same transport that brings Maisie

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out.'`Thank you very much, Mr Selby,' replied a very

grateful Tammy.`Don't forget to get your release form signed,' hereminded her.

Putting the receiver down, she let out a pure gaspof relief, then instantly frowned. The release form.Then she remembered that Mr Hampton had signed

her first week's work form, and she brightened; hecould also sign the release. Then as another thoughtstruck her, she became sombre again. She would nowhave to tell him.When he appeared later that morning and asked

brightly how she was getting on, it didn't make thingsany easier when he commented how relieved he wasto have the office work off his shoulders.

She looked at him and sighed inwardly. If onlythings had been different !

' Mr Hampton,' she began, then finding she couldn'tlook directly at him, took the bull by the horns andplunged in. 'I've made arrangements to be replaced.'

He started, and stared at her. Tut I thought youwere settling in nicely, girl, I had hoped to try toget you to stay on. What's wrong ?'

Tammy smiled gently at him. 'As far as you areconcerned, absolutely nothing,' she said quietly.`Believe me, Mr Hampton, if things were different I'dbe only too happy to stay, as it is...' her

voice trailed off.

He looked hard at her, then walked to the window

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and stood gazing out. 'It's Rick, isn't it ?' he saidabruptly, then turned to face her again.

Tammy nodded. So he's noticed, she thought.

He let out a loud sigh. 'I thought so. He's beenriding you hard, hasn't he ? The damned young fool,'he muttered.

She said nothing. Mr Hampton came and stoodbeside her and put a large fatherly hand on her

shoulder. 'I know it's hard for you to understand, girl,but we've all noticed it, and guess we know the reason.

There's not much we can do about it. He makes hisown rules. Don't be too worried about it. I was hopingit would blow over. He had another go at you

yesterday, didn't he?' he said quietly.Tammy stayed silent, her lovely eyes sombre.He nodded. 'I thought so,' then sat down, beside her.

`You've heard about Mrs Hatton, I suppose ?' heasked.

Once again Tammy nodded. 'She left his father,didn't she ?'

Mr Hampton ran a horny hand over his knee. 'Yes,'

he said abruptly, then looked at Tammy again. 'See,girl, she was English too. I worked for his dad inthose days and I remember her quite well. You've

got a look of her. She was small and dark too, but hereyes were brown, not the kinda lovely blue of yours.'He got up impatiently. 'Thing is, the likeness is there

and Rick must have seen it.'Tammy was silent. She looked down at her desk.

It made sense at last. 'How old was Rick when it56


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happened ?' she asked.`Fourteen,' replied Mr Hampton. 'Old enough to

feel it and see what it did to his dad. He took it hard.She did try to come back, you know, but JackHatton's pride got in the way.'

Tammy thought about this for a while, then smiledat him. 'Thank you for telling me. I do understandnow. You do see why I must go, don't you ?' she said

gently.He sighed and nodded, then gave an explosive,

`Damned young fool, no call to take it out on a nicegirl like you, any fool can see you're not like the otherone.'

Tammy had no answer for that. 'Will you pleasesign my release ?' she said. 'I shall be leaving onWednesday.'

He started. 'As soon as that ?' he queried.

She nodded. 'There's a relief available, you see.'

She smiled at him. 'She's a Queenslander, so she'ssure to be an instant success. It's suitable all round,she would have liked this post in the first place, onlyshe'd already started another assignment.'

With a depressed air Mr Hampton had to acceptthe arrangement.

There was one other thing Tammy had to ask. 'MrHampton, would you do something else for me ?' sheasked. 'Don't tell Rick Hatton until after the replace-ment's here and I'm on my way back to Adelaide.'

He debated a moment or so about this, then looked

at her sadly and made up his mind. 'It might be best

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at that,' he agreed.Tammy felt like crying. She managed a smile and

thanked him for agreeing to her request.That evening on the verandah, Gerry mentioned a

forthcoming event, saying Tammy must attend it. Shegave Mr Hampton an anxious look as she replied,We'll see.' Mr Hampton held his peace.

The following day dawned bright and cloudless.

It's going to be a scorcher, thought Tammy as sheglanced out of her window. She listened to the familiar

sounds of Esme in the kitchen and singing at the topof her voice as she prepared breakfast. The slight

lowing of cattle in the distance made her eyes mist

over. She had been happy there, she would miss themall, even though she had only been there for such ashort period. She wondered what the next post held in

store, and hoped it would be without complications. Asshe smoothed her cool cotton frock over her hips she

realised this would be her last day. By lunch timetomorrow, with any luck she would be on her way.Packing she would leave until the evening, she de-cided. Not that she had much to pack. She was grate-ful for the advice of Mr Selby about travelling lighton these assignments.

That Mr Hampton had also realised this was herlast day was made plain by his gloomy expression ashe sat down to join her at breakfast. Gerry hadbreakfasted much earlier and already left. 'I thought,'he began, 'that as it's your last day you might have

some place you'd like to see. I'm prepared to take

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you if there is.'Tammy laid her cup down. In his kindly way he

was trying to make up for the rough treatment ofRick Hatton.

It's very kind of you, Mr Hampton,' she said,smiling mistily at him, 'but really there's no need. Itmight cause a bit of speculation too, you know. Idon't want anything to get in the way or go wrong atthis stage.'

`Damned young fool' muttered Mr Hampton again.The 'damned young fool' arrived in person later

that morning. Tammy heard the car coming up the

drive, and took defensive action. She went quickly

to her room and started to pack. She found she wastrembling slightly, and admonished herself for hercowardly retreat.

When the knock came at her door, she almost hitthe ceiling. She gazed at her case half packed, and

hurriedly hid it beneath the bed. 'Yes?' she answered.Mr Hampton's voice somewhat reassured her until

she heard his request. Will you have a word with MrHatton, Tammy ?'

She quailed. Had he told Rick ? 'Very well,' shereplied. She squared her shoulders and put her chinout. What could he do about it, anyway? Nothing.

As she passed the office door the drawling voicestopped her. 'In here, Miss Dainton.'

Going in, she found Rick Hatton alone.`I've had a word with Mr Hampton,' he said, and

Tammy tensed. Now she was for it ! She flushed

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slightly, he gave her a\ hard stare and continued.` I need your help at Wamoshanta,' he said curtly.

`As you know, my book-keeper is sick, and there's nochance of getting him back to work for at least acouple of weeks. I'm entertaining a conference partyin a week's time, and it's essential I have some secre-

tarial assistance.' He had been studying the desk topwhile he spoke, now he looked full at her, meeting her

eyes. 'It means you'll have to stay at the homestead,of course. Danny will collect you tomorrow. Be ready

and packed at eleven.' He turned to go.

Tammy's heart was pounding. Of all the bad luck !`Could you make it the afternoon, please ?' she

said in a small voice.He turned to face her, his eyes narrowed. 'Why ?'

he asked harshly.

Taking a deep breath, Tammy answered, 'Becausemy relief won't get here until twelve.'

Rick moved back into the room and stood facingher. He didn't speak for a second or so, just silentlystudied her. 'What relief ?' he asked softly.

Tammy met his eyes squarely. 'I'm being replaced,'she said slowly. 'At my own request. The young ladyis a Queenslander and a very efficient secretary. You

see, she won't get here until noon, so if you couldmake it a little later to collect her . . .' her

voice trailed off.He continued to look at her. There was a smoky

expression in his eyes. 'When were these arrangements

made ? Isn't it etiquette to first advise your employer ?'

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Tammy flushed. He's just plain

the in possible boss - jane corrie

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